Market leader WordPress
Open source content management systems (CMS) have become impressively widespread. Like commercial CMSs, they offer users extensive functions for managing and creating websites without requiring in-depth knowledge of web development. The best-known example is WordPress, which is used for about 64% of all websites as of October 2022, according to an analysis by Statista. This makes WordPress the market leader among CMS platforms. Other popular open source CMSs include Joomla and Drupal.
Cost effective solution for professional websites
Open source software is software whose source code is freely accessible and modifiable. In contrast, users may only use proprietary software, but not modify it. Also, unlike commercial solutions, no license fees have to be paid for open source software. This is particularly attractive to individuals and small businesses and is one of the main reasons for the success of open source CMS. However, as with commercial solutions, open source CMS may incur costs for hosting, for website design as well as maintenance.
Website functionality of any kind through extensions
Open source CMS - first of all WordPress - are characterized by a large number of plugins and extensions. E-commerce extensions allow users to set up an online store on their website and sell products and services. SEO tools help improve a website's search engine optimization (SEO) by improving on-page optimization and increasing visibility in search results. Form builders allow forms to be embedded on the website to receive feedback or requests from users. Social media extensions integrate platforms like Facebook and Twitter into the CMS so that users can share content on these platforms and easily link to the website from there.
Since the source code of the open source CMS is publicly available, a large number of developers can contribute to it. This leads to a large number of available plugins and extensions for virtually every imaginable feature. This is especially useful for companies that have special requirements that are not met by proprietary software. The large active community of developers also means that problems are usually fixed quickly and further development can proceed rapidly.
Security and support through large community
Another important factor for the success of open source CMS like WordPress is their security. Since the program code is generally visible and reviewed by a large number of developers, security threats can be responded to quickly. Proprietary software, on the other hand, is more likely to contain security vulnerabilities that are not discovered by developers before it is delivered to users. This makes open source CMSs like WordPress a safe choice for businesses, provided general security practices are followed and security updates are installed regularly.
Users also have access to numerous forums and online resources for questions about problems and enhancements to their websites. This support is often better than commercial solutions because it comes from a large community.
Open source CMSs have revolutionized website creation
Overall, the success of open source CMS - and WordPress in particular - has helped make the Internet what it is today. Users can use it to create and manage websites easily and inexpensively. Their license-free nature, flexibility, security, and community support have helped make open source CMS a popular choice for many users - for personal to large corporate websites.
